Gaslight

A Victorian Era Fantasy Role Playing Game

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Marc Gacy
Stephen J. Miller
Jonathan M. Thompson
 Gaslight: A Victorian Era Fantasy Role Playing Game Copyright © 2009, 2010 Jonathan M. Thompson.
Revised Third Printing. Gaslight Victorian Fantasy is published by Battlefield Press, Inc., PO Box 861,
Ringgold, Louisiana 71068. All rights reserved. Errata and other feedback can be sent to
thompsonjm@gmail.com. Attention: The bearer of this PDF has the permission of the publisher and the
copyright owners to have one (1) copy printed for personal use via any commercial printer. If you are a
clerk in a copy print center and you are reading this notices please do not treat our customers or yours as
if they were a criminal — print this file. We are allowing it and you should also.
Open Content: Subject to the product identity designation below, the following portions of the Gaslight
rulebook are designated as Open Content: all character statistics and creation rules, all rules systems and
mechanics, all feats, powers and skills, all rules explaining rules mechanics or special qualities. The use
of Product Identity in these circumstances is limited solely to the mechanical effects and systems, not to
the items previously stipulated as falling under the PI.
Designation of Product Identity: The following items are designated Product Identity (PI) in
accordance with Chapter 1(e) of the Open Gaming License, version 1.0; Any and all logos, identifying
marks and trade dress, including all the Gaslight products and product names any elements of Gaslight,
including, but not limited to Gaslight Role Playing Game, races, geographic locations, capitalized names,
names of magic items, names of artifacts, names of spells, gods, historical events, any and all stories,
storylines, thematic elements, documents within the game world, quotes from characters or documents,
and dialogue; all artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, illustrations, maps and cartography, likenesses
poses, Clan or factional mons, logos, symbols, or graphic designs, except such elements that already
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appear in the System Reference Document and are already OGC by appearing there. The above product
identity is not open gaming content.
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Authors: Marc Gacy, Stephen J. Miller and Jonathan M. Thompson

Additional Materials: Herbert George Wells, Jules Verne, Arthur C. Doyle, Stephen J. Miller, Mary
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Shelley, Bram Stoker, H. Rider, Christopher Helton, Lisa Harjtes, Clay Weeks, Carey Weeks, Adam R.
Thompson, Terrence David Thompson, Clay Weeks, Carey Weeks, Tracey Castanas, Philip Baccus,
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Christopher Helton, Corey Lerbs, Jessica Lerbs, Michael Anderson, Arlen Wood, Angelique Montag,
Richard A. Shepardson, Jeff Neppl, Don Scurlock, Paul W. Regge, Jodi Napiorkowski, Walter
Napiorkowski, Katrina Radcliff, Tad Kelson

Editing Team: Lisa Clevenger, Tad Kelson, Mitch Williams

Cover Art: Charles Raymond Macauley - from "Dr Jekyll & Mr. Hyde", layout by Marc Gacy
Interior Art: WikiMedia Commons
Layout Design: Marc Gacy
Playtesters: Playtesters: The Local Group (Jonathan M. Thompson, Adam R. Thompson, Terrence
David Thompson, Clay Weeks, Carey Weeks, Tracey Castanas, Philip Baccus), The BPI-Gaslight Group
(Christopher Helton, Lisa Clevenger, Tad Kelson, Mitch Williams), The Curmudgeons of London
(Angelique Montag, Richard A. Shepardson, Jeff Neppl, Don Scurlock, Walter Napiorkowski, Jodi
Napiorkowski, Katrina Radcliff, Paul Regge), the Baltimore Misfits (Jessica Lerbs, Corey Lerbs, Mark
Duffy, Arlen Wood, Mike Anderson, Ken Zimmerman, Grant Spencer), and all the others in Minnesota.

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 Dedications

From Stephen: To my friends and family who put up with odd questions and trivia during the writing
of this book. A most special dedication to my sister, Tina. You always made sure I did my best, now I will
have to struggle alone to keep doing that. You will be missed.

From Jonathan: To everyone that has put up with me over the years that this book was being
developed. This includes my mom (Marilyn DeLeon) who started me out with a love of history and put
up with my gaming since 1980, and my son Terrence who without my life would be much different.

From Marc: To Sonja who encouraged me to get back into gaming after such silly diversions as college
and grad school, to the kids who now need no encouragement to game (success!) and to all in my Sunday
night group for years of fun.

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Image by Russ Sutler http://www.stutler.cc/other/misc/baker_street.html

under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

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 Prospice
Fear death? -- to feel the fog in my throat,
The mist in my face,
When the snows begin, and the blasts denote
I am nearing the place,
The power of the night, the press of the storm,
The post of the foe;
Where he stands, the Arch Fear in a visible form,
Yet the strong man must go:
For the journey is done and the summit attained,
And the barriers fall.
Tho' a battle's to fight ere the guerdon be gained,
The reward of it all.
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I was ever a fighter, so -- one fight more,
The best and the last!
I would hate that death bandaged my eyes, and forebore,
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And bade me creep past.

No! let me taste the whole of it, fare like my peers
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The heroes of old,

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Bear the brunt, in a minute pay glad life's arrears

Of pain, darkness and cold.
For sudden the worst turns the best to the brave,
The black minute's at end,
And the elements' rage, the friend-voices that rave,
Shall dwindle, shall blend,
Shall change, shall become first a peace out of pain,
Then a light, then thy breast,
O thou soul of my soul! I shall clasp thee again,
And with God be the rest.

Robert Browning (1861)

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 Contents
Introduction ................................................................. 1
This Is a Roleplaying Game ...................................... 1
Characters ........................................................... 1
What You Need to Play ..................................... 1
The Core Mechanic ................................................... 2
The Gamemaster ....................................................... 2
Heroes ....................................................................... 2
Abilities ............................................................... 2
Class .................................................................... 2
Level .................................................................... 3
Hit Points ............................................................ 3
Skills and Feats ................................................... 3
Background Occupations .................................. 3
Game Play ................................................................. 3
Rolling Dice ........................................................ 3
A Game Session .................................................. 4
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What Characters Can Do ................................... 4
Skill Checks ........................................................ 4
Ability Checks .................................................... 5
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Attack Rolls ........................................................ 5
The Combat Round ................................................... 5
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Attack Actions .................................................... 5
Move Actions ..................................................... 6
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Full-Round Actions ........................................... 6
Free Actions ........................................................ 6
Reactions ............................................................. 6
Action Points ...................................................... 6
What’s Next? ............................................................ 6
Playing the Game ............................................... 6
General Advice .......................................................... 6
Generate Ability Scores ..................................... 7
Choose Your Class ............................................. 7
Assign Ability Scores ......................................... 7
Select Your Talent .............................................. 7
Hit Points ............................................................ 7
Defense ................................................................ 7
Speed ................................................................... 7
Initiative .............................................................. 7
Base Attack Bonus.............................................. 7
Reputation .......................................................... 7
Saving Throws .................................................... 7
Melee Attack Bonus ........................................... 8
Ranged Attack Bonus ........................................ 8
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Action Points ...................................................... 8
Background Occupation ................................... 8
Select Skills ......................................................... 8
Select Feats ......................................................... 8
Determine Wealth and Buy Gear ..................... 8
Finishing Your Character .................................. 8
Terror by Gaslight ...................................................... 9
The World of Gaslight ............................................... 9
The Victorian Era ............................................... 9
Terminology ..................................................... 10
Victorian Themes ............................................. 10
Victorian Religion and Magic ......................... 13
Important Organizations and Secret Societies ........ 13
MI 7 ................................................................... 13
Culto de Ostras Azules ................................... 14
Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn ............ 14
The Invisible College ....................................... 15
Knights of the Round Table ............................ 17
Pinkerton Detective Agency ........................... 18
Red Headed League ........................................ 18
Scotland Yard ................................................... 20
Van Helsing Institute ...................................... 21
The Sun Never Sets .................................................. 23
Gazetteer ................................................................. 23
England and Europe ........................................ 23
North America ................................................. 27
South and Central America ............................ 28
Africa ................................................................. 30
Asia .................................................................... 30
Timeline: 1859-1901 ............................................... 34
Abilities ..................................................................... 43
Your Ability Scores ................................................ 43
Random Generation ........................................ 43
Planned Generation ................................................ 43
The Abilities ........................................................... 44
Ability Modifiers ............................................. 44
Strength ............................................................. 44
Dexterity ........................................................... 44
Constitution ...................................................... 44
Intelligence ....................................................... 44
Wisdom ............................................................. 44
Charisma ........................................................... 45
 Ability Score Related Rules ............................. 45
Statistic Checks ................................................. 45
Other Statistic Check Examples ...................... 45
Initiative Checks ............................................... 45
Races............................................................................ 47
Beast Men ................................................................ 47
Humans ................................................................... 49
Vampires ................................................................. 50
Werewolves.............................................................. 51
Wildlings ................................................................. 53
Racial Talent Trees .................................................. 54
Alternate Form Talent Tree ............................. 55
Amazing Constitution Talent Tree ................. 55
Animal Senses Talent Tree .............................. 56
Charm Talent Tree............................................ 56
Greater Lycanthrope Talent Tree ................... 57
Inner Beast Talent Tree .................................... 57
Hybrid Damage Reduction Talent Tree ......... 58
Instinctive Response Talent Tree .................... 58
Increased Speed Talent Tree ........................... 58
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Dominion Talent Tree ...................................... 58
Fortune Talent Tree .......................................... 59
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Natural Weaponry Talent Tree ....................... 60
Personal Background Talent Tree .................. 60
Privilege Talent Tree ........................................ 61
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Prodigy Talent Tree .......................................... 61
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Social Ties Talent Tree ..................................... 62
Supernatural Talent Tree ................................. 62
Tunnel Rat Talent Tree .................................... 63
Height and Weight ........................................... 64
Action Points .......................................................... 64
Allegiance ................................................................ 66
Pledging Allegiance ......................................... 66
Allegiances and Influence ............................... 67
Reputation ............................................................... 67
Fame and Infamy .............................................. 67
Using the Reputation Bonus ........................... 67
Allies ....................................................................... 68
Gaining Allies ................................................... 68
Losing Allies ..................................................... 68
Supply ................................................................ 68
Influence ............................................................ 69
Knowledge ........................................................ 69
Skill .................................................................... 69
Calling On Allies .............................................. 69
Rank ........................................................................ 69
Promotion .......................................................... 70
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Character Classes ...................................................... 73
The Basic Classes .................................................... 73
The Multiclass Character ................................. 73
Advanced Classes ............................................ 73
Prestige Classes ................................................ 73
Class and Level Bonuses.......................................... 73
Base Attack Bonus ............................................ 73
Base Save Bonuses ............................................ 74
Level-Dependent Benefits ........................................ 74
Background Occupations ........................................ 74
Academic ........................................................... 76
Academic ........................................................... 76
Adventurer........................................................ 76
Athlete ............................................................... 76
Artist .................................................................. 76
Bohemian .......................................................... 76
Bureaucrat ......................................................... 77
Circus Performer .............................................. 77
Craftsperson...................................................... 77
Creative ............................................................. 77
Criminal ............................................................ 77
Dilettante ........................................................... 78
Doctor ................................................................ 78
Domestic ............................................................ 78
Drifter ................................................................ 78
Engineer ............................................................ 78
Escape Artist ..................................................... 79
Fortuneteller ..................................................... 79
Gentry ................................................................ 79
Heir .................................................................... 79
Hunter ............................................................... 79
Investigative ..................................................... 80
Laborer .............................................................. 80
Law Enforcement ............................................. 80
Magus’ Assistant .............................................. 80
Military .............................................................. 81
Politician ........................................................... 81
Psychic Investigator ......................................... 81
Religious ............................................................ 81
Rural .................................................................. 81
Stage Magician ................................................. 82
Student .............................................................. 82
White Collar ...................................................... 82
World Traveler ................................................. 82
Character Classes .................................................... 83
Acolyte .................................................................... 83
Class Features ................................................... 83